The Relationship Between Uncertainty Level and Self-Disclosure Over Time.

Dallinger, Judith M.; Prisbell, Marshall

A study investigated the way in which self-disclosure and uncertainty levels operated over time in 44 developing relationships. The 88 subjects in the study were assigned to dyadic relationships, with the dyads working together on various tasks throughout the semester of an introductory speech class. Uncertainty level and five dimensions of disclosure level (amount, intent, honesty, depth, and positiveness of disclosures) were measured three times during the semester. Results indicated that a combination of the five dimensions of self-disclosure failed to predict uncertainty levels at any time. As hypothesized, uncertainty level decreased over time and amount of disclosure increased over time. However, perceptions of intent of disclosure, honesty of disclosure, and depth of disclosure--all of which were hypothesized to increase over time--fluctuated, while positiveness of disclosure did not significantly change over time. Failure to support the hypotheses may have been the result of the poor reliability and inadequate validity of the self-disclosure instrument and the laboratory-type setting. (RL)